Intro:

Clermont Auvergne cruised into the semi-finals of the European Champions Cup with a 37-5 thrashing of English Premiership leaders Northampton.

Script:

English Premiership leaders Northampton travelled to Clermont Auvergne for the quarter-finals of the European Champions Cup.

A daunting task for the Saints and the hosts duly made a strong start.

Noa Nakaitaci powered through some lacklustre tackling to score Clermont's opening try with just 12 minutes on the clock.

The winger added another on the half hour mark after a Wesley Fofana break left Northampton's defence stretched.

Fofana got on the scoresheet himself just before half time to leave Northampton trailing by 27 points at the break.

And it only got worse when Nick Abendanon pounced on this loose pass and raced the length of the pitch to score Clermont's fourth try.

A successful conversion took the score to 37-0 and left the English side with little to play for.

They eventually scored a try of their own - Alex Waller plunging over from close range in the 67th minute.

Little consolation as Clermont ran out 37-5 winners to reach the final four.